October 23rd 2009 10:22 am
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I had my VERY first cani-cross training lesson today...
... and boy was it FUN!!!!
*woooof*
Though it did take me a while to figure out that I am not only allowed to run when in the special harness, but in fact I am ENCOURAGED to do so!! BOL
You see, Momma and Daddy have always trained me to walk to heel (unless they say otherwise), so for me to put my brain into "run" mode was a little abnormal.
Seeing as it was my very first time having Daddy hooked up to me, and having me pull him along with me, Momma decided that she would help us out.
So, while Daddy held me in a sit, Momma walked a bit away from me - and she took my FAVORITE stuffed dino with her, as well, to sweeten the deal.
Well, seeing as I do not like when the Pack is not together, I knew that I just HAD to get back to Momma. So once Momma was in position and started calling me, Daddy would release his hold on my collar and tell me I could run.
(The funny moment of the training session happened on the very first time we tried. You see, once I was allowed to run to Momma, Daddy accidentally unhooked the clip from my lead, and I was FREE! It took Momma a moment to realize that I was not connected to Daddy, and she had a moment of worry that I would take off, rather than run to her. But silly Momma - I was a good girl, and ran right to her!!! She told Daddy that she kept saying to herself why wasn't daddy running too, until she realized I was not hooked up to him! BOL)
The very first PROPER run through (pun intended! BOL) was a bit odd for me.
You see, when I was allowed to go, I did not realize that Daddy was still connected to me. So, I started running, but then soon felt the weight of Daddy behind me, so that stumped me for a moment.
But, then I felt Daddy start to run a little, and so I was OFF!!!
Admittedly, it was a little strange having Daddy running behind me, as I helped to pull him.. but soon it became GREAT fun!!!!
We went back and forth a few times, and I was loving it!
Momma said that my puppy smile was a mile wide!!!
So seeing as this seemed to be a success, Momma and Daddy have decided that we will train again tomorrow!! WOOHOO!
(This will be a good replacement activity to engage in, while my agility class is on hiatus too! Will be something fun to do!)
And Momma told Daddy that they will be getting one of THESE for me for Christmas too!!!
WOOOHOOOO!! I is one LUCKY pup!
Ok, I am exhausted from the training.. time to catch some zzzz's!
Thanks for reading! *hugs & howls*
July 15th 2009 3:19 pm
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I have just ONE thing to shout to the stars:
AGILITY CLASSES ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yup.. if you can not figure it out, I LOVED my VERY FIRST AGILITY CLASS that I went to on Saturday July 4th!!!
I learned the jump, weave poles, and the jump-through hoop!!!
The class was not that big - there were only 3 other dogs on this day, though there are usually a few more dogs that attend as well.
The instructers (Mark & Amy) are very nice, and so helpful Momma & Daddy. I took to them both very well, but I took an extra shine to Mark, I do admit. *smiles* He used to be a police dog handler instructor, and has lots of experience working with german shepherds. He was very nice to me, and we had a good time playing ball before class started. He is even going to give Momma & Daddy some instruction on how to teach me to track scents, which should be great fun!
Both Mark & Amy kept saying that I am SO intelligent, and that they could not believe how quickly I picked up how to do each obstacle!!! :)
In fact, before class started, Amy told Momma & Daddy not to expect too much during the class, as it was my first time. And that all of the other dogs had been doing the classes for many weeks or months, so they would be way more advanced than me. Momma & Daddy understood that, and knew that as long as I did my best, then they would be proud of me.
But I had a surprise waiting for all of them!
*puppy giggles*
I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO goood! RIGHT AWAY TOO!
*proud puppy eyes*
Amy could not believe how well I did on my first run through!!! She kept saying that I did BRILLIANTLY!!!!
And EVERY thing she told us that I would not be able to do in my very first class, I DID!!!
She said that I would not be able to control myself enough to do a running start up to the jump.. but I DID it!! =)
She said that I would, in NO way, manage the weave poles. Esp as they had set up the extra long length of poles, which the other dogs who have been doing the weave poles for weeks had not even tried yet. She said that I would be wary of the weave poles....
... but I DID it!!!! =)
In fact, I did ALL of the obstacles!!! I just wanted to keep going and going!!
Mark told Momma that he could tell that I was really enjoying it, and he was soooo right!
So, the fact that I really enjoyed it, plus the fact that Mark & Amy said how awesome I was at it, was enough for a decision to be made!!!
I WILL continue to go to Agility Classes - at least every other Saturday, if not more often!!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
I did have one momentary lapse of composure at the very end of the lesson, and had a quick fit of the ZOOMIES!! But, rather than yell at me and try to catch me, everyone just smiled at me and let me run it off.
And Momma was so proud of me, as I very quickly went from full-on ZOOMIE mode, into focused mode, and continued the course with no faults!!
You see, when I am off-lead around other dogs, I often just want to play - I mean, I am still just a puppy, after all!! So, Momma was a little worried the moment that Daddy unclipped my lead, at the start of the class. She was afraid that I would be all over the place, and that the last thing I would do was concentrate enough to do the course for an hour.
But Momma had NO reason to worry, as I was GOOD AS GOLD while off-lead!!!
Soooooo...
All in all, Agility Class was a HUGE success!! And it will be something I continue to do!!!
(The only thing that I have to get better about is not being nervous. You see, there was another german shepherd at the class, and he is HUGE! And he is very vocal and boisterous, so he kinda made me a little nervous when he was up in my face. I tended to bark a bit when he passed, as a nervous reaction. But by the end of the class, I was MUCH better, and did not bark nearly as much. So, the thought is that I will continue to get better and become more comfy around him with each class. I will try my best, I promise!)
Momma told Daddy that it would be a waste of my natural talent (& enjoyment!) to not continue! I am SOOOOOO happy with that decision!!!
The only negative about the Agility Class is the location! It is all the way in Gosport!
That means: a bus, then a train, then a ferry & then another bus!!!
That is A LOT of travelling, no?? *PHEW*
And while I have been on the bus LOTS of times, and the train once .. I had never been on the ferry!!
The ferry was SO fun! I LOVED looking over the side, into the water!!! Too bad the trip was so quick!! :)
Momma was so proud of how well I travelled to and from the class!!! I did not bark at anyone & I did not whine, except when I needed to let Momma know that I needed to find a patch of grass. :)
After class, the three of us walked around Gosport Market & everyone kept approaching us, wanting to stroke me.. and they all said how LOVELY & WELL-BEHAVED I was!!! That made Momma & Daddy SOOOO proud!!
By the time we got back home, it had been almost 8 hours since we had left the house... and so once we walked into the house, all I wanted to do was:
SLLLEEEEEEEPPPP!!!!!!! *BOL*
And so that is the report of my VERY FIRST AGILITY CLASS.. and I think we can all call it a true SUCCESS, no?? :)
And my next class is this Saturday (July 18th), & I can NOT wait!!! :)
Thanks SOOOO much for reading about it, and I hope you liked the pics too!!!
I know that I still have my report about Paws In The Park to make.. and I will do so soon. Thanks for being so patient with this silly little puppy!!
I hope that you are all well. I am soo thankful that I have the Pack that I do!! Makes this puppy feel not so alone in the big scary world!!!
Until next time... See Ya Around The Park!! Watch out for the poopy-piles!! *puppy giggles*
Take care, Packmates!!!!
*lots and lots of slobbery puppykisses for ALL*
June 11th 2009 3:25 pm
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I am SUPER UBER excited for tomorrow!!!!
Why.. you may ask??
Well, tomorrow is my monthly treat of going to the heated doggie pool to have a 30 minute swim... with toys, and Momma & Daddy IN the pool with me!!
And that WOULD be exciting enough, but it gets even BETTER!!
You see, Daddy called their friend, Ross, tonite... and told Ross that *I* wanted to invite his doggie, Thomas, to go swimming WITH me!!!
And Ross said YES!!!! :)
*excited puppy spins*
I am sooooooo excited, I can not sleep!!! :)
I will have to make sure and look out for sweet Thomas, as he has never been to the pool before, so he might be a bit scared of the water... and esp of the deeper end! (he is smaller than me - he is a black sprocker.. soooo cute!! :))
I mean, I was scared myself the very first time I went. It took me ages to get the courage to swim into the deep end, and I only did it 'cause Daddy was in the pool with me and coaxed me out. But once I did, there was NO stopping me!!!
So, I will do all I can to let Thomas know that there is nothing to be scared of. And Momma said that she and Daddy will go into the pool with us too, just in case Thomas needs some gentle coaxing!!
I REALLY hope that he will be able to find the courage to swim with me. 'Cause I know that he LOVES water, so if he can get over any nervousness, then I know he will have a great time!!!
I will do my bestest.. wish me luck!!! *puppy smiles*
BTW: Momma told me that I had better SWIM tomorrow, and not just chase Thomas around the pool. BOL!! She knows me soo well. I have not seen Thomas in over a week, and we always have fun chase games... so I guess she has reason to say that to me. BOL But I told her that I will try to be on my best behavior and save the chase games for IN the pool!!!
Hey.. we can play "Barko Polo"!!!
*puppy giggles*
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